It's been 12 days since I finished running the Blue Ridge Parkway. As a quick update, I'm feeling great physically except for an old injury Achilles tendon attachment injury at the base of my left heel. It was aggravated by all the uphill/downhill in the last 6 days of the run (Crabtree Falls up to Mt. Mitchell down to Asheville, then up to Mt. Pisgah then up to Richland Black Balsam, then down to Balsam Gap and up to Waterrock Knob, then down to Soco Gap, then up for 5 miles, and finally down to Cherokee).

That problem will get better in time. Running injuries are like bad neighbors... The first instance is full of controversy and drama and may require "mediation" (a doctor's intervention). Then you learn to live with each other even though you may not like each other. You learn your boundaries and limits. 🙂

Interview with Don Lister

Before we started #relaywithray, I blogged about Don Lister, the only person to have run the Blue Ridge Parkway previously, in consecutive days. Don was gracious enough to come and run the last two miles with me on June 9. Below is an interview/conversation between the two of us after we finished that day...

Two weeks ago, after the ascent to Mt. Mitchell, the Day 18 Running Blog featured thoughts about the skills of R. Getty Browning. There is little doubt that he was the most important framer of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. He hiked the entire route, made two pivotal presentations to the United States Department of Interior's Radcliffe Committee in 1934 (which recommended the road's path), lobbied numerous officials, and was coordinated final routing decisions while the road was being built.

Little did I know that Mrs. Harriet Davant, one of Blowing Rock's most prominent citizens, is Getty Browning's daughter. Rhonda and I had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Davant in her home Thursday, June 16, 2016. What I learned was not what I expected, it was better than I expected.

Career Tidbits

Having read much about Getty Browning's roles in building the Blue Ridge Parkway, I asked Mrs. Davant about her memories of his career: what he did and how he did it. I learned a few things about Mr. Browning's career and life:

- He was respected in his hometown of Deer Park, MD (rural, western, hilly Maryland, closer to Morganton, WV, than any Maryland city).

- He worked in Baltimore before moving to Raleigh in 1921 to work for what would become the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

- "He could get along with anyone.", which is evidenced in accounts of Mr. Browning's interactions with almost everyone associated with building the Blue Ridge Parkway.

- He hiked the region that would be come the Blue Ridge Parkway route by following deer paths through the mountains.

- Mrs. Davant remembered she and her mother taking Mr. Browning to the train station for trips to Washington, DC, meeting about the Parkway project.

- She remembered President Franklin Roosevelt travelling to Western North Carolina. (As best I can determine, this would have been a trip in 1936 for the opening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when the President traveled from Knoxville to Asheville as he visited the new national park.)

R. Getty Browning's Altimeter

Mrs. Davant showed us a special family heirloom, Mr. Browning's altimeter. It was the size of a pocket watch. The altimeter is attached to a leather pouch which he signed in ink. The altimeter is a beautiful, museum-worthy item. It was easy to imagine him hiking the Parkway route checking the altimeter for elevation as he sought the most drive-able route.

"He was my hero."

It was evident that Mrs. Davant was proud of her father's accomplishments and how much he did for North Carolina roads and the Blue Ridge Parkway. However, it was quickly clear that Mrs. Davant's best memories were of a loving, caring father.

Cover of Twinkly Eyes

She remembered her father reading bedtime stories from Twinkly Eyes, an illustrated 1919 children's book about a little black bear. She said that Mr. Browning would add his own words of advice in the midst of the written text, such as, "And if you ever find yourself between a mother bear and her cubs, leave quickly because the mother bear will become angry."

Mrs. Davant remembered how much her father loved her three older brothers and Mrs. Browning. She recounted stories from home life that illustrated what a kind, caring man he was.

When asked to describe her father in a few words, here are the words she said:

- "Honest"

- "Got along with everybody"

- "Friendly"

- "Charming"

- "Devoted husband"

- "Loving father"

Mrs. Davant beamed with enthusiasm when talking about her dad. She spoke with glowing words and the unabashed admiration. In retrospect, I already knew what I needed to know about Getty Browning's professional career before meeting with Mrs. Davant. What I needed to know was that he was a great family man as well. What greater thing could I have learned?

Writing this blog on Father's Day is fitting. So many of us struggle to balance work and family. Ninety-three years from now, what would be more important to you? To have a mountaintop named in your honor with a plaque on the Parkway (see photos below from Milepost 351.2, Waterrock Knob)? Or to be remembered by your daughter with such love?

Text on the plaque:

"Browning Knob

Named in honor of R. Getty Browning, 1884-1966. Location and Claims Engineer and Parkway Consultant for North Carolina State Highway Commission, 1925-1964.

His forceful presentation of the high quality scenery found in North Carolina secured the location through Western North Carolina and the Cherokee Indian lands to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

With consideration and courtesy for those involved, he worked untiringly to secure the rights-of-way for this spectacular mountain Parkway. During the construction of the Parkway he ably represented North Carolina in its dealings with the National Park Service.

'His love of the mountains was surpassed only by his love of people.'"

Mr. Browning's Passing

R. Getty Browning

Mr. Browning passed away January 29, 1966, in Blowing Rock, NC; however, "the rest of the story" is priceless...

Mrs. Browning had a stroke in the early 1960s and became the first resident at the Blowing Rock Nursing home just a few blocks from the Davant home. On a cold, snowy morning (6.1" of snow and a low temperature of -15F in Blowing Rock according to National Centers for Environmental Information archives), the Davants awoke early to a knock on their bedroom door. It was Mr. Browning with severe chest pain. Dr. Charley Davant (a doctor in Blowing Rock since 1948) gave him a shot for pain and placed him in the Davant's bed. Dr. Davant said, " I don't know if we can get an ambulance to the house because of the snowstorm. Stay with him here while I see what I can do." Getty Browning passed away shortly afterwards in Mrs. Davant's arms.

Mrs. Davant said, "I was angry at God about my father being taken away from me." She was looking forward to having her father close to her for a while, since her older brothers lived elsewhere. She said, "But months later walking the beach at Hilton Head, I thought... 'What more could I have wanted for my father? He had a great career. He was loved by so many. And he passed from this life with little suffering. That's as good as it can be. All that anger left me that day walking on the beach."

Tuesday morning, after four days of no running, I returned to one of my favorite short runs to "kick the tires". A 5-miler including the Maze beginning at Bass Lake is an easy test of the legs. It all went well, I even picked up the pace a little with a sub-8-minute 4th mile. The only real physical issue is a tiny tear at the base of my left achilles--an old injury that I know well. It was not a significant problem. It's exciting to come through 24 days in pretty good condition.

During the last several weeks, I have been asked many questions. Here's a few that have been asked more than once. If you have a question that is not answered here, make a comment to this blog with the question, and I'll add it to the FAQ answers.

Was anyone helping you?

David at the Peak of Richland Black Balsam

Absolutely. David Still (10-11 days), Rhonda (my wife, 2 weeks), John Allard (3 days), and Denna Miller (1 day) made sure we had food and water, transported us to and from start/finish points, explored the areas around the Parkway, and helped with photography and video. Additionally, they helped assemble resources (photography, video, etc.) for the blogs and for BRPWeather.Com.

Why didn't you take a day off?

The original intent was to take a couple days off to rest; however, we did not "schedule" them. We thought weather, events, or how I felt on a given day would dictate when we would take a day off. But none of this issues ever presented themselves; so, I just kept going. (Although an injury problem came very close, see below.)

Did you see any wildlife (in particular, bears)?

We saw turkey, deer, grouse, hawks, and buzzards in abundance. On the morning we drove from Little Switzerland to the starting point on Mount Mitchell, we saw more turkeys than cars. That same day (coming down Mount Mitchell) some of our runners saw a bear, but I never did. And I saw several dead snakes on the road; fortunately, I never encountered a live one.

What was the weather like?

We started the run at Milepost 0 in 49 degrees, drizzle, and fog. Fog continued for most of the first 4 days. Really, for running, that was perfect weather.

After that, the weather was pleasant for most of the event with a couple exceptions. Heat... It was really warm around Galax and when we reached lower elevations coming off Mount Mitchell. Rain... We got drenched one day, just south of Linville Falls in the last 20 minutes of the run.

What was the most surprising aspect of Relay With Ray?

By far the most surprising aspect of the event was how much time it took to produce the blogs. I so desperately wanted to get to our hotel and recover every day; however, while trying to recover (ice, heat, etc.), I was dealing with photography, videos, social media, and writing. Most days, we worked non-stop from the time we finished the run to past time we needed to get to sleep for the next day (11 PM and later). By the time Relay With Ray was finished, I was more mentally exhausted than physically exhausted.

What was the most important thing you learned about the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Great question! The most important thing I learned was that the Parkway is bigger, not in size but in impact and dynamic, than I or anyone else ever imagined.No one person can understand or capture it all. It is about geography, terrain, climate, people, recreation, personal challenges, memories, cars, motorcycles, bikes, wildlife (great and small), flora, history (pre-Parkway including not just one era but all eras, its conception and building, and history since the 1930s), day-to-day activities, maintenance, money, the people who live around it (then and now), the impact on neighboring communities, and so much more.

I believe that one of the great challenges for the Parkway, from the very beginning, has been that no person can wrap their brain around the whole thing. Some of the biggest mistakes in the management of the Parkway has related to this problem. For example, the decision early-on to focus on just one aspect/era of the region's history--rural, poor Appalachia--is a symptom a too narrowly focused vision for the Parkway. The Parkway's impact is immense and multi-faceted; it always has been, and always will be. (For the past 120 years, some of the richest people in America chose to build mansions within a stone's throw of this route, and those types of houses are still being built nearby. I just wish they would be built outside the viewshed of the road.)

What is the most important thing you have learned personally from Relay With Ray?

Top of Waterrock Knob

Patience. I learned to take what the terrain gave me to run and run it within my personal ability. Anyone who knows me knows I'm not the most patient person; I want to get it done and move on. I'm sure there are a few runners in the world who can run the entire way from the James River to the top of Apple Orchard Mountain or from Gillespie Gap to the top of Mount Mitchell or from Balsam Gap to the top of Waterrock Knob. But I'm not that person. I had to accept long climbs at 3-4 miles per hour. But you know what? In the end, the end 469 miles was covered--that's all that really mattered.

What was the most fun thing that happened during Relay With Ray?

Parkway Kids, Photo Courtesy of Ken Ketchie, High Country Press

Hands down... The kids at Parkway School!

What was the best thing about running the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Start of Day 20 Run

The best thing was enjoying the miles with other runners. I had someone running with me for most of the route beginning in Fancy Gap. Every person I met had a great life story--from working to overcome drug and alcohol addiction, to surviving cancer, to running a marathon in every month for 66 months and a husband-wife running duo, to a family with their young boys tag-teaming the run, to Blue Ridge Parkway personnel, to dramatic weight loss, to a friend who drove up from Atlanta twice, to my younger sister driving over from Franklin TN, and many more--I enjoyed every mile with new (and a few old) friends. We had cyclists hang out with us for a couple days; both times they were a great help.

What was the worst thing that happened while running the Parkway?

Two physical challenges encountered during the run. One I talked about a little; the other was hush-hush while it was happening.

First, I injured the Tibialis Anterior muscle (I think) about 2-3 inches above my foot (shown in the diagram to the right). I'm pretty sure the injury occurred from running only on the left side of the road. The Parkway is significantly sloped in curves and as with all roads there's some camber from the middle of the road. As a result, my left foot was consistently landing with the outside of the foot lower than the inside. Muscles working to stabilize my body were overworked and the injury came out there. (I'm not a physical therapist or MD; so this is my best theory of the injury and cause.) I first noticed the injury at the end of the day after running around Roanoke. Within two days, that whole muscle was swollen and inflamed and any attempt to flex the left foot shot nearly unbearable pain through the leg. I really was a the limit of my endurance for pain for 2-3 days; however, I figured out how to land on my left heel and propel with my right leg.

For the next 7-8 days, I ran exclusively on the right edge of the road. Once the pain was less, I split time between the left and right edge of the road. I treated with NSAIDs. However, I don't like the way I feel running with NSAIDs; so, I only did that for 3-4 days. Every afternoon and evening, I went through a process of icing, heat, icing (two times). Then in the mornings, I iced then heated before the run. Beginning the third day, Rhonda concocted a formula of essential oils--Lemongrass, Panaway, and Copaiba. I must say, I was skeptical about the concoction, but the first morning after applying the oils, I felt a noticeable improvement. That's not a clinical medical trial, but I kept that going for the rest of the run and will use them again for a muscle injury.

The second physical problem I kept pretty much to myself, knowing that if I told, someone might take me off the road. If you are a bit squeamish, you might want the skip the rest of this section. I would not recommend what I did to someone else, but I'll confess it here. For six days in SW Virginia and into NW North Carolina, I urinated blood during the run.

Now, in defense of my decision to keep going without professional medical attention, I had NO OTHER SYMPTOM, no loss of energy, no fever, and no pain. If any of those had happened, I was have seen a doctor. Plus, the condition cleared up immediately after running. But I have to say, it freaked me out; I've never had that happen before.

Here's the best theory I have for what happened... First, I was pretty well-hydrated; so, I do not think that was the problem. From what I read, the NSAIDs could have been a contributing factor. I think that I completely emptied my bladder near the beginning of the run producing a condition called a "bruised bladder" resulting in the blood. My fix was: 1) continue with plenty of hydration, before, during, and after the run each day and 2) never completely empty the bladder.

Whether my "treatment" fixed the problem or it went away on its own, I don't know. All I know is... it went away. Thankfully!

What was the best thing you saw during the run?

Burnett Reservoir, South of Mt Mitchell, from 5500'

The long range views from Mount Mitchell, the Richland Black Balsams, and the Plott Black Balsams were undoubted the best. "Breathtaking" is not an overstatement. If you have seen those, you must go.

What running adventure is next for you?

I'm figuring that out now. Maybe my first ultra-marathon in the Fall? My challenge vision problems--I have no peripheral vision on my left side resulting in very poor depth perception. Technical trails are just too dangerous for me; so, it would have to be a relatively easy ultra-marathon. My real "bucket list" goal is to run all the Major Marathons--only Tokyo and London are left for me to complete. However, expense and schedule may keep me from going to one of those next winter (Tokyo) or spring (London). We'll see.

How did you train for this run?

I have an entire blog post on this subject; however, I'll summarizes briefly here.

Training was hampered by minor illness in the Spring and a ridiculously hectic schedule. I knew there was no way to run for 23-24 hours per week; besides that running 140 miles per week in training would crush my body. So I worked up to 70 miles per week at a faster pace than I would run RelayWithRay. My hope was that I could simulate the wear on my body with less time than the event would actually take.

The NC Mountains are far more challenging than the VA mountains. I was hoping that Virginia would train me for North Carolina--thus decision to run from north to south.

I did almost all my training on hard surfaces since I would be running on asphalt.

I lost some weight, but did not get down to "marathon race weight". The fear was that I would lose more weight during the run and leave me too frail for the last week or two.

I did all I could to keep muscles healthy including almost weekly massages.

As important as the physical training was the mental and even academic training: 1) My RelayWithRay strategy was to make sure that, at the end of each day, I felt like I could come back and do another 20 miles the next day. So, I kept the pace slow and walked more than I thought I really needed to. 2) I read two books on the history of building the Blue Ridge Parkway. That may sound odd, but when I started, I was well prepared mentally for the challenges each day even before looking at the specific terrain map for the route. The one mistake I made in this regard (even though this was mentioned in one of the books) was the steep banking in the road and failure to alternating the run between left and right sides of the road (even though I knew better from my running coaches training)

Didn't it damage your knees?

My knees are absolutely fine. But my left leg muscles are beaten up--IT Band, my quads, and that Tibialis Anterior muscle. For years, I have had chronic problems with my left achilles tendon; by the end of the run, it had flared up somewhat. I also had a minor issue with the right quad during the last 3-4 days. Most of the damage to the legs comes from running downhill because of increased pounding in the pavement and using the "breaking muscles" more.

Besides running the entire 469 miles, did you accomplish the goals for the event?

This may be the most insightful but, at the same time, the most difficult question to answer. In fact, we may not know for weeks, months, or even years.

Celebration at Gillespie Gap

Our primary goal was to "Celebrate the Centennial Year of the National Park Service" by bringing attention to the beauty and wonder of the Blue Ridge Parkway and to raise money and awareness for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. We also wanted to thank all the people who work for the Blue Ridge Parkway from the folks that keep the grass mowed, the administrative and maintenance staff, the Interpretive rangers, and law enforcement. We did our best on all points, but only time will tell if we really accomplished the goal.

BRPWeather.Com

Secondary, we wanted to call attention to our own website, BRPWeather.Com, with weather stations, web cams, photography, and custom forecasts spanning the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. BRPWeather.Com was initially funded by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; however, the business model called for sustaining the site to be accomplished by advertising. To be very honest, in the business model, I greatly miscalculated how difficult it was to sell advertising to businesses and other entities along the Parkway. After reading the history books about the Parkway, I realize that the boundary between public and commercial interests has been one of (if not THE) biggest challenge since the Parkway's beginning in the 1930s. This effort will make us more forthright about the need to generate a little advertising revenue to keep it going. If peeing blood for 6 days does not prove my commitment to all aspects of the Parkway, I don't know what else I can do. It's not like we need tons of money; we are a cheap date and provide tons of bang for the advertising dollar. If folks along the Parkway want this resource, we're going to need a little help.

A third goal was for me (and RaysWeather.Com as a company) to know every nook and cranny of the Blue Ridge Parkway better. I can declare that goal accomplished!

Sorry for the delay in posting the Day 24. About 30 minutes from the finish, our daughter called with the news that our new grandson, Russell Gorman Berry, had just been born. After a quick lunch in Cherokee, we scurried to Boone to repack and then to Raleigh to seen this little fellow. We were with Russell, Leah, and Denny by 10 PM. All are doing great! Blogging went on hold for a while while we enjoyed family and I got some rest after a long (but great) 24 days.

This blog will be brief. We are still in Raleigh. There's so much more yet to tell.

Day 24 Run

Near the Finish of Relay with Ray.

Running with me were: 1) my sister, Jeanne Newton, who drove from Franklin TN, 2) our friend Neal Stubblefield who for a second time drove up from Atlanta, 3) David Still, Director of Business Development for RaysWeather.Com, who worked tirelessly to set up the run and assisted me for 10-11 days of the run (water, fuel, etc.), and 4) our special guest, Don Lister, who is the only other person to have run the Blue Ridge Parkway in consecutive days. For details on Don's story see the blog post, Ray is No Don. I interviewed Don on camera after we finished and will share that in a blog soon. Jeanne and Neal ran the entire route with me Thursday. David and Don picked up with us in the last 2 miles. We began the run at Milepost 460 with only 9 miles to go to the finish. The route had only one uphill section about 2 miles into the run. Otherwise, it was a fairly steep descent of 2400 feet over the 9 miles. We passed through the last three tunnels. I took it really easy until the last quarter mile, but enjoyed a more spirited end to the run.

Photos and Video

Ray and Don Lister at the Southern Entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 469.

We placed today's photos on http://www.BRPWeather.com/. From the Google Map on BRPWeather.Com, zoom into the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway to see today's photos. By the way, you can upload your photos to BRPWeather.com also; just click on the Photo link and follow the process--it's quick and easy!

Here are a few videos we made. I'll share more on blogs in the next several days. We have many more stories to tell. Here we have: 1) the start video (by the way, Jeanne ran the entire route instead of just a couple miles as stated in the start video), two ending videos, and a mock Hoka Commercial (What do you think? Should I get the promo job from Hoka?).

Location Information

The southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway is along the Oconaluftee River at US Hwy 441 just a couple miles north of Cherokee, NC. It is a mile or less south of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Cherokee has historically struggled economically compared to the Tennessee entrance area for the Great Smoky Mountains. However, the day we finished, Cherokee was crowded and bustling. The town has scores of smaller, "Mom and Pop" businesses and of course the large casino.

Parkway Attractions and History

Of course the original purpose of the Blue Ridge Parkway was to be a road connecting two new ("new" in the 1930s), Eastern U. S. National Parks.

The Parkway route was a compromise reached between the Cherokee Tribe and the National Park Service. Instead of going through the Soco River valley, the route took a northerly "high route". Hwy 19 was built as a part of the compromise agreement. The Cherokees concerns were that: 1) the limited-access Blue Ridge Parkway would limit commercial potential and 2) the wide right-of-way required would take too much fertile farmland in the valley.

Next...

And on Days 25, 26, 27, etc., we rested. Of course, we were exhilarated by the birth of our new Grandson. But I have so much more to share about the experience. To be honest, every single day was such a rush of getting ready, running, getting to the next stop, recovering, and blogging. I am more mentally tire than physically tired (not to minimize the physical exhaustion). My left leg is beaten up, it will take several days of physical recovery. But I will and will be out running on the Moses Cone Trails in the next 2-3 days.

It was an epic run across the Plott Balsam Range. I think 19 of the 20 miles had a grade of 5% or more (12 of those were up, 8 down). The day beat my legs up big-time. Many thanks to Julie and Les Taylor from Waynesville who came to the start and supplied cookies from Kandi's Cakes and Bake along a bottle of CryoDerm for achy muscles. How nice! Thanks so much. A cookie powered miles 8 through 12.

Day 23 Run

Scott Creek Overlook

I'm glad I started in Virginia. If I had started with today's terrain, I might have quit. It was hard! We started at Milepost 440 (Village of Saunook Overlook). 3.5 miles were sharply downhill to Balsam Gap. That's the transition to the Plott Balsams and began an 8-mile climb to Waterrock Knob (almost back to 6000'). Then the route dropped me like a rock to Soco Gap. The last 5 miles had 4 miles of climbing. At the 19th mile, I started back down.

The views along this route continue to amaze. We have many photos on BRPWeather.Com. They tell the story best.

OJ's Glove

The big discovery on the run today was finding OJ's glove. In the middle of nowhere on the side of the road.

Photos and Video

We placed today's photos on http://www.BRPWeather.com/. From BRPWeather.Com, zoom into the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway to see all the photos . By the way, you can upload your photos to BRPWeather.com also; just click on the Photo link and follow the process--it's quick and easy!

Here are the starting and ending videos...

Location Information

View from Our Cabin this EveningOur last night on the road is special. We are staying at Cataloochee Guest Ranch. The photo to the right was my "office" for blogging this afternoon.

Cataloochee Ranch is located above Maggie Valley with long range views in every direction. Lodge, ranch house, and cabin rooms are available on an 800 acre ranch. It's a great spot for to bring extended families with something for everyone. You can just simply relax in the cool mountain air or fish, ride horses, mountain bike, hike, birdwatch, take the wagon ride, and (in winter) ski or snowboard.

Cataloochee Ranch was founded by “Mr. Tom” and “Miss Judy” Alexander in 1933 and was originally located in the Cataloochee Valley. In 1938 Mr. Tom purchased a large part of the present Ranch property on Fie Top Mountain. The Ranch is now run with the same level of hospitality by a third generation of family members.

Food. Oh yes, lots of food. Social hour was at 6 PM and an outdoor feast was enjoyed by all the guests. Breakfast is equally special. Serving "family style" is a Cataloochee tradition.

It's one of my favorite spots in Western North Carolina--you will never be disappointed.

Parkway Attractions and History

Cranberry Ridge OverlookThe ending section of today's run was a controversial one for routing of the Parkway. The National Park Service preferred a lower-elevation route through Soco Valley to Cherokee, NC; however, the route through Cherokee Territory (near the current Hwy 19 Route) was rejected by tribal leaders. Fred and Catherine Bauer led the opposition to the Soco Valley Parkway route from 1935 to 1941. Finally a compromise was reached on the "High Elevation" route I began late in the run (but only after a change in tribal leadership). My legs would feel much better tonight, if that lower elevation route had been selected. 🙂

If you have never traveled over Waterrock Knob, do. It's majestic!

Next...

I'm left with just 9 mostly downhill miles to reach the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Hwy 441, just north of Cherokee, NC. We'll start at 9:30 AM and will plan on an 11:30 finish. I can't believe it's almost over. My special guest tomorrow is Don Lister--the only other person to run the whole Blue Ridge Parkway in consecutive days (except he added Skyline Drive for 576 miles and did it in 17.5 days). He'll finish the run with me along with David Still who has worked tirelessly in planning, promotion, logistics, and being "the crew" for 10 days of the event. And.. my friend and 6th cousin, Neal Stubblefield, (I'm not kidding. Our families got to work on genealogies and found our common ancestor last week) is coming back up from Atlanta to run today. Here are details for the run... http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1101927386

Day 22 was a day of highlights. At Milepost 431.5, we reached the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway--Richland Black Balsam, elevation 6053 feet. But even more exciting was that Don Lister, the only person to have ever run the entire Blue Ridge Parkway to date, drove over and found me. We had lunch in Waynesville after the run.

Day 22 Run

David at the Peak of Richland Black Balsam

The day started at Milepost 420.2, just over a mile south of Graveyard Fields. Rolling hills but a net downhill for the first 6 miles allowed me quicker speeds than expected. Then the climb to Richland Black Balsam begin, reaching the peak 11.5 miles into the run. From there, it was down, down, down. Milepost 440 (missing as was 420) would have been right before the Village of Saunook Overlook. That's where we ended the run, with about 3.5 miles of descent left to Balsam Gap.

I felt great most of the day; however, 8 miles of relatively steep downhill left me with a few sore spots--quads, hip flexor, IT Band. A little heat and ice tonight should have me ready to go again tomorrow.

Again today, long range views were stunning. We have uploaded scores to BRPWeather.Com and will let them tell the story.

Photos and Video

We placed today's photos on http://www.BRPWeather.com/. From the Google Map on BRPWeather.Com, zoom into the region southeast and south of Waynesville, NC, to see some spectacular long range views. By the way, you can upload your photos to BRPWeather.com also; just click on the Photo link and follow the process--it's quick and easy!

We made three videos today: the start, one at Richland Black Balsam, and the ending video.

Location Information

Balsam Mountain InnWe are staying tonight at an amazing old hotel--the Balsam Mountain Inn. It was built between 1905 and 1908. At the time there was no road to bring in wood so they set up a sawmill on site to provide lumber. Balsam Gap was once home to the highest passenger rail station in the east, and guests at the inn – then called the Balsam Mountain Springs Hotel – took day trips to nearby Balsam Mountain Peaks. The inn originally had 100 rooms. It's a fantastic building with 100-foot porches lined with rocking chairs and ferns. Want TV? Forget it. This is place for quiet and relaxation. Dinner and breakfast is served each day. We'll get breakfast in the morning (so I can't review it yet), but dinner was as good as any I have had on the entire journey. Their history is fascinating; for more details, see http://balsammountaininn.net/historic-balsam-mountain-inn/.

Weather Covered

We have two stations nearby with custom forecast for the region. First, WaynesvilleWeather.Com has a weather station located atop Mast General Store in Downtown Waynesville. And... BRPWeather.Com has a station located at the Parkway maintenance area at Balsam Gap. They are provide weather data and the most reliable forecasts for the region.

Waite Financial

A huge thanks to a last minute supporting sponsor Waite Financial based in Hickory and also servicing clients in the High Country.. Principle officer, Katherine Newton, has been in the financial industry for over 30 years helping clients meet their goals, providing advice and managing assets rather than selling products. A hallmark of Katherine's work is listening first, then honoring and protecting clients' intentions and dreams. In Katherine's own words, "The work I do is entirely focused on my clients and what is important to them, being careful NEVER to use investment-speak or acronyms specific to my trade. Many mornings I wake up and pinch myself, as I am incredibly grateful and happy to have the relationships I have and to do the work that I do."

Parkway Attractions and History

The section we covered today is pretty simple to describe--amazing view, after view, after view. The scenes from Richland Black Balsam to Mt Pisgah are the most dramatic of the entire run. If you have never visited this area, you gotta come. Hiking and cycling opportunities abound.

Next...

The Day 23 run is probably the 2nd most difficult of the entire run.We descend for 3.5 miles to Balsam Gap. From there, it's a 2400-foot climb in 8 miles to Waterrock Knob. After a brief descent, there's another 700 foot climb during a 3-mile stretch. We'll end the day about 9 miles from the south end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here are details about the route ... http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1101917966.

Today's run featured good running company, tunnels, a climb up Mt Pisgah, Looking Glass Rock, Graveyard Fields, and the start of the climb up Black Balsam.

Day 21 Run

Ray with Ranger Conrad Shirk

Ranger Conrad Shirk, an interpretive ranger for the Blue Ridge Parkway, ran about 13 miles of today's run. His company made the day go by much more quickly.

The run was a big climb to Mt Pisgah for the first 8 miles, followed by ups and downs for the next 8, and then a big crescendo climb toward Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam.

Looking Glass Rock

We had great long-range views for the entire day from this high elevation route. Views were great both east and west. The most scenic of features was Looking Glass Rock that dominates the east side of the Parkway for 6-8 miles.

Tunnel Construction in the 1930s

The other dominate features in today's run was tunnels--eight of them, all in the first half of the run. There are 26 tunnels along the Blue Ridge Parkway. 25 of these are in North Carolina, and most are in the section of the Parkway south of Asheville in the High Terrain. some of these tunnels are pitch black in the middle--our trailer car must follow us through the tunnel with lights and flashers to protect us from traffic and to give us light to run in.

Photos and Video

We placed tons of photos on http://www.BRPWeather.com/. From BRPWeather.com, zoom into the Google map for the region just south of Asheville--you'll find much to see. By the way, you can upload your photos to BRPWeather.com also; just click on the Photo link and follow the process--it's quick and easy!

Here are the videos from today. The end video is "NASCAR Style" :-),

Location Information

Waynesville Inn and Country ClubWe are spending the night in Waynesville, NC. Waynesville is a great town with a beautiful, shop and restaurant filled downtown. We are staying at the Waynesville Inn and Country Club. The Donald Ross designed course was built in 1926. The lodge was initially constructed in the 1920s. While true to the style and charm of the era, the rooms are spacious and comfortable. Rhonda and I have stayed here a couple time previously when looking for a close get-away.

Parkway Attractions and History

New Restroom Facilities at Graveyard FieldsPisgah Mountain is one of the most visible mountain peaks from Asheville. There were hiking trails at almost very turn along today's route. Cyclists were in abundance. Graveyard Fields was a popular spot for hiking. By the way, there's a new restroom facility at Graveyard Fields--a project funded by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

I mentioned the cooler temperatures at these high elevations. Weather played a factor in the routing of the Blue Ridge Parkway through this high terrain. Summer temperatures here are 10-20 degrees cooler here compared to the lower elevations in Tennessee where the initial Parkway routing committee recommendation placed the Parkway.

Next...

The Day 22 will reach the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Richland Balsam Mountain at Milepost 431. We will start at 8:30 AM just past where the missing Milepost 420 should have been, near the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Black Balsam Knob Road. Here are the details... http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1101900658.

Day 20 was the most event-packed day of Relay with Ray with a 7 AM start at Haw Creek Valley Overlook live on TV. We took a brief break before visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville. The day ended with a run through a tunnel almost one-quarter mile in length.

Day 20 Run

Asheville WLOS Live On-air Start to Day 20 RWR.

We were up early for a 7 AM live on TV start with WLOS. Hope Hanselman, the reporter, did 3 live spots between 7 AM and 7:30 AM. She also caught an interview around 9:30 at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitors Center. Here's a link to her story. Also, our Starting Video is a video of our live, on-TV start to the run today (see below).

Start of Day 20 Run

We had a great time with several runners during the first 6 miles--Beth and Zach Durrett with their precious daughter Abbie, Stephanie Wallace, Alan and Virginia Ward, and Rita Larkin. Easy running and lots of conversation produced a fun start.

Getting ready to run through Pine Mountain Tunnel

I was solo after mile 6 with a rolling hills run across South Asheville. The crossing of the French Broad brought an end to the "rolling" and the beginning of a 7-mile climb. The highlight of the scenery was the Pine Mountain Tunnel--1320 feet long. When was the last time you ran through a tunnel that long?

Photos and Video

We placed today's photos on http://www.BRPWeather.com/. From BRPWeather.Com's Google Map, zoom into the Asheville area and click on the photo icons to see all the photos. By the way, you can upload your photos to BRPWeather.com also; just click on the Photo link and follow the process--it's quick and easy!

The start video is pretty neat in spite of low audio quality. It shows Hope Hanselman interviewing me at the start of today's run. The ending video comes from elevation 3350 with Mt Pisgah looming in the background.

Location Information

Biltmore EstateBesides the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smokey Mountains, the 8000 acre Biltmore Estate may be the most visited tourist destination in Western North Carolina. It's no wonder, starting with the amazing Biltmore House, completed in 1895 by George Vanderbilt, this grand destination features so much to do... unparalleled gardens, the winery, fantastic dining, two wonderful lodging options, shopping, hiking, a world-class spa. and so much more. Visit their website for all the details. You will never be disappointed by a visit to the Biltmore, and you could return 100 times without seeing it all.

Our stay at the Inn on Biltmore Estate has been wonderful. Between Rhonda and I, I think have tried everything on their informal dining menu--all terrific whether eaten on the beautiful Veranda (outside) or in the spacious Library dining area. I'm sure the fine dining is terrific as well, but after running 20-miles per day for 20 days, casual was more our speed. Tonight, the Hot Point Trio was so much fun--far more than typical dinner music.

Asheville is a great city--parks, shopping, the Craft Beer Capital of America, music venues, outdoor activities of every type, great dining, art, folk art, the possibilities are virtually endless. For places to live, it has to be one of best in America.

The entire 40-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway is loaded with outdoor activities. Trails could be found all along the route, highlighted by the Mountain to Sea Trail and the DuPont State Forest Trails (among many, many more). Rafting, kayaking, etc. along the rivers was a common sight. Cyclists passed by in virtually every mile. There's far more than I can list in this blog.

Next...

The Day 21 (tomorrow will complete 3 weeks at 20 miles per day) will be a toughie. Our start at 3250' is the lowest spot on the route. We're going up, and up some more. The day ends at 5483'. With total climbing of over 5000'. It will be a long day in a beautiful office. Here's a link to the plan... http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1101872012.

Day 19 began at Milepost 360 on the side of Mount Mitchell and ended at the Haw Creek Valley Overlook at Milepost 380. We had lots runners along with terrific long range views.

Day 19 Run

I must keep this blog abbreviated. Today was a very long day--up at 5:15 AM, pack and leave Big Lynn Lodge, drive 45 minutes to the starting point, coordinate with all the runners, (Oh yeah!) run 20 miles, and then get to our new home for a couple days. And tomorrow has a very early start; we must be at the starting point at 6:45 AM for a start on live TV (WLOS Asheville).

After a rolling two miles at the start, 90% of the day was downhill, descending from Mt. Mitchell into the French Broad Valley at Asheville.

Today's runners with two visitors who joined in the photo.

We had lots of "Relayers" today. Michael Molling began the day with us and ran to Craggy Gardens. Michael is Chief of Maintenance for the Blue Ridge Parkway and has been invaluable to us in helping us to this point. Many thanks to Mickael! Katherine and Brian Cornell brought their four boys (Michael 12, James 10, Paul 10, David 8) and tag-teamed the day with us. Jinnie and Stan Austin from Matthews, NC, returned (with their precious little boy Noah). Stan ran last Saturday with me in Alleghany County. Today, Jinnie ran the first 12 miles; Stan ran the last 8.

I have learned the "rhythm of the Parkway" and today was no different. Before, 9 AM we encounter more turkeys than people. People start to arrive around 9 AM. Traffic increases steadily between 10 AM and noon. Traffic was non-stop today after 11 AM with Parkway visitors driving up to Craggy Gardens and Mt Mitchell from the Asheville area.

Photos and Video

We placed today's photos on http://www.BRPWeather.com/. From BRPWeather.Com, zoom the Google Map into the area from Asheville to Mt Mitchell to see all the photos.. By the way, you can upload your photos to BRPWeather.com also; just click on the Photo link and follow the process--it's quick and easy!

Here are the starting and ending videos from the day's work.

Location Information

Our Room at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.We are spending the next two days at the fabulous Inn on Biltmore Estate. Yes, this place is as amazing as advertised. Here's the photo of the room. We had a wonderful lunch on the Veranda as a thunderstorm was brewing over the mountains.

Parkway Attractions

Visitors Center at Craggy GardensWe passed Craggy Gardens at Milepost 364.5. Craggy Gardens is a popular spot for hiking, panoramic views, and picnics. A Visitors Center with a beautiful view located right on the Parkway.

Next...

Day 20 will be complicated but exciting. We start live on TV (WLOS Asheville) at 7:05 AM at the Haw Creek Valley Overlook (Milepost 380). We'll run to near the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitors Center at Milepost 384 and then take a long break. We had already planned a short reception at the Visitors Center at 9:30 AM and did not want to change those plans. We'll be at the Visitors Center for a while then resume the run around 10 AM. The next 16 miles takes us across the south side of Asheville and over the French Broad River. Beginning at mile 13 into the run, it's back to climbing on the way to Mt. Pisgah. Here are details on the route... http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1099657732.

The term "breathtaking" is overused, but literally today at one point I looked to my left and it took my breath away. Day 19 took me to the 5600' level on Mount Mitchell. I'll mostly let pictures tell the story.

Day 18 Run

Ray at Mt Mitchell Entrance

Run by the numbers: 18th day, 360 miles total, 20 miles today, 3 tunnels today (6 total out of 26 along the Parkway), almost 4000 feet of climbing, 1 tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River. I started at the camping area for Crabtree Falls near Milepost 340 and ended at Walker Knob Overlook past Mount Mitchell near Milepost 360.

After a rolling but net downhill start, the climb began at Hwy 80. I went through 3 tunnels (MP 344.4, 344.5, 339). After mile 10, a 1.5 mile descent began before the final climb up the base of Mt Mitchell. The Parkway loops around Mt Mitchell at the 5200' and 5600'.

I got some rare photos looking south from the Blue Ridge Parkway on Mt Mitchell. These will be pretty rare since traffic is not allowed to stop along this section. You would have to be on foot or bike to get them.

Photos and Video

The best way to tell the story of today's run is in the photos on http://www.BRPWeather.com/. It was all about long-range mountain views today. From BRPWeather.Com, zoom into the region around Mt Mitchell and click on the photo icons. By the way, you can upload your photos to BRPWeather.com also; just click on the Photo link and follow the process--it's quick and easy!

Well, the videos are short and not my best. I focused on getting the run done instead of talking today. Here's the starting and ending video...

Location Information

My "office" this evening from the Big Lynn Lodge.This is our third night at the Big Lynn Lodge. We could not have enjoyed our stay more. Hoyt and Michelle Johnson and their staff make a friendly, relaxed environment. If you are looking for 5-star accommodations, you'll be disappointed--but if you are looking for a beautiful, inauspicious, relaxed, affordable lodge with good food, this is it. To the right, see my blogging office this evening from the side porch of the lodge.

Parkway Attractions and History

Crabtree Falls

Crabtree Falls (with the campground and picnic area) is a popular spot. We did not have time to hike to the falls, but I have seen many photos--beautiful!

Mt. Mitchell

Mt Mitchell is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi. The Parkway runs across the southern rim, but you can drive to the top. Mt Mitchell is a North Carolina State Park. Rhonda went to the top while I was running.

Mt Mitchell from a Distance

Mr. Browning's Touch

You may know that the original report of the committee appointed to recommend a Blue Ridge Parkway route was to turn the road west from Linville into Tennessee near Roan Mountain. The road would have then stayed on the Tennessee side of the state line to the Great Smokies. The process and lobbying efforts that resulted in the North Carolina route being accepted was full of controversy and intrigue. This process is detailed in Super-Scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway Historyby Anne Mitchell Whisnant.

R Getty Browning, photo from http://docsouth.unc.edu/blueridgeparkway/overlooks/competing_routes/One of the key figures in that process was R. Getty Browning. He also became Parkway Engineer and the Senior Locating and Claim Engineer for the Blue Ridge Parkway. I love Browning's story and life because he demonstrated such expertise in so many areas: technical (highway engineering), route selection, lobbying Federal administrators, an outdoors-man (who hiked virtually every inch of the North Carolina Parkway route), etc. Twice in the early 1930s, he was given the task of presenting the North Carolina case to the routing committee. His technical and persuasive skills are widely accepted as being a (if not "the") primary reason the Blue Ridge Parkway follows the route I ran today (and for the rest of this run). He was a man of substance and tact--a rare combination.

As I was running (and walking those steep uphill stretches) today, particularly from Hwy 80 to Mount Mitchell, I was in awe of the skill it took to get to 5600' elevations near Mt. Mitchell but with a grade that was manageable by auto, bicycle, and on foot. In a world of too much specialization, here's a salute to the people who possess multiple talents and excel at multiple skills. Clearly, R. Getty Browning was one of those people. My day (and everyone else's out there today) was due to his abilities. Mr. Browning retired in 1962 after nearly 30 years of work on the Blue Ridge Parkway. He died in Blowing Rock, NC, in 1966. We owe so much to this man.

Next...

The Day 19 is mostly a descent toward Asheville and the French Broad Valley. We start at Walker Knob Overlook, just north of Milepost 360, at 9 AM (or as soon as I can get there from Little Switzerland). We'll run past Craggy Gardens then down toward Asheville. If you want to start at Craggy Gardens (where much more parking is available) we'll be there around 9:45. Here are details of the plan... http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1099646808.